Deenie

Reach for this book when your child is grappling with a change in their physical identity, facing a medical diagnosis, or feeling pressured by high parental expectations. Deenie is a classic coming of age story that tackles the vulnerability of middle school with unflinching honesty. It explores how thirteen year old Deenie navigates the sudden requirement of a restrictive back brace for scoliosis, which clashes with her mother's dreams of her becoming a model. Parents will find this a powerful tool for discussing body image, self acceptance, and the importance of a child defining their own future. It is a realistic, secular look at the social anxieties of the seventh grade, though it includes frank mentions of developing sexuality that may require parental guidance. It is best suited for mature middle grade readers who appreciate stories that do not sugarcoat the difficulties of growing up.